Times News NetworkKanpur: A district-level Millets Festival and Millets Recipe Programme was held at Kailash Bhawan auditorium of Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology to promote millet production, nutrition, processing and marketing.Agriculture department organised the event under National Food Security and Nutrition Mission and UP Millets Revival Scheme. Chief development officer Kanpur Nagar presided over the function and Kanpur MP Ramesh Awasthi was the chief guest.Awasthi said millets have gained global recognition, resulting in exports of 90,000 tonnes. With demand expected to rise, farmers should increase production to secure better prices and contribute to making India a developed nation by 2047, he added.Sanjeev Gupta, vice-chancellor of the university said the country has become self-reliant in food grains but lagged in millet cultivation and also needed self-reliance in oilseeds and pulses. He urged farmers to grow nutrition-rich crops such as jowar, bajra and ragi.Chief development officer said district administration aimed to help farmers increase production and obtain better prices. Millet cultivation offered benefits at three levels: low-cost production and higher returns for farmers, improved nutrition, and profits through processing and marketing. He assured farmers of assistance with millet cultivation.Public and private organisations set up stalls covering seeds, crop protection, soil testing, horticulture, farmer producer organisations and organic farming.
